A Force of Magic [HP Jamione fanfic]

Chapter 11: Tea Parties and Celebrations

1st January 1999
2pm
Diagon Alley - London
Gringotts Wizarding bank

December passed ridiculously quickly. James had moved in with Hermione and Harry a couple of weeks in, and they'd spent a wonderful Christmas together with the residents of Black Manor and the many Weasleys - James was introduced to them all at the beginning of the day and promptly forgot half their names.

It had been tense for a little bit as the newcomers took a while to warm up to the suddenly and miraculously alive James, but by the time Flissy laid out the Christmas dinner everyone was getting on famously.

Now Harry and James were on their way to Gringotts to get James reinstated as Head of House Potter. They could do it unofficially on the Estate - which they had done as soon as he'd moved in, but to make sure that it was all above board and legal, they needed to go to Gringotts. The Goblins could also be trusted not to reveal that James was alive, especially if he returned some Goblin made items to them, which he was planning on doing.

James had been wary about coming out in public again, not sure if he was ready for it, and Harry hated going out in public just because of how many people tried to accost him, so they'd concealed their identities until they reached the steps up to the entrance to the bank.

As they approached, Harry hesitated, grabbing James' arm briefly. "Harry?" James whispered, turning back to his son with a worried frown. He glanced up and down the street to make sure it wasn't something that Harry had seen, "You alright, son?"

Harry nodded somewhat jerkily, "The last time I was in here we were flying out on the back of a dragon and destroying the building. Not sure how happy the Goblins are going to be to see me."

James snorted, he'd thought he got up to some shit at school, but Harry and his friends put him to shame. "Goblins are never very happy to begin with anyway, Harry. The artifacts we're giving back will more than make up for the damage caused, I'm sure."

They entered the bank and James waved his wand to cancel their disguises, and together they approached the closest free Goblin. James looked up at it silently, not interrupting, waiting for it to acknowledge him.

After a moment the Goblin nodded at James to go ahead. "I am James Charlus Potter, and I'm here to be reinstated as the Head of House Potter." The Goblin narrowed its eyes and stared down at him for a moment, before clicking his fingers. An old piece of parchment and a quill appeared in its hands. He handed them down to James.

"That is a blood quill. Sign your name in full with the quill, and if you are telling the truth I will fetch the Potter account manager to deal with you." The Goblin said briskly.

James nodded his thanks. After adjusting the parchment in his hands, he quickly scrawled his full name across the parchment with the blood quill, wincing when it cut into his hand. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Harry wincing too, and gripping at one of his hands with the other. James filed that away quietly to ask about later.

The Goblin held its hand out for the parchment, looked it over and nodded decidedly. "Wait one minute." It said firmly and gestured for another Goblin to come over. "Get the Potter account manager and see these two gentlemen to meeting room 5." James nodded his thanks at the Goblin as they passed by, following the other Goblin.

Getting their accounts sorted, and James reinstated took a ridiculous amount of time. Harry was shocked to discover the vault he'd been using was just a vault his parents had set up for him to have access to until he was 21. The main Potter vault was about five times the size, and contained inordinate amounts of coins, jewellery, and artifacts.